Srinagar poll violence: Kashmir Valley reopens after 3-day strike

Normalcy returned to Kashmir Valley on Wednesday after three days of separatist-sponsored strike against the death of civilians in poll violence.

Shops, private offices, fuel stations and other business establishments in the summer capital opened on Wednesday, while government offices and banks also resumed normal functioning, officials said. They said public transport was back on the roads in the city. Similar reports were received from across the Valley, the officials said.

The Valley remained shut for three days after the separatists had called for a strike on the polling day on April 9 and later extended it for two days following the death of eight civilians in poll violence. While seven civilians were killed in Budgam district of central Kashmir, one person was killed in Ganderbal district.

The chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief in a joint statement on Sunday had called for strike for two days from Monday to protest the killings.